The UAS Standards Manager is the enterprise standard-setter for unmanned aerial system operations across all 250+ Quanta operating companies that implement drones or maintain drone programs. This role sets the operating standards, executes audits, designs and delivers training programs, maintains corporate internal communications and guidelines with the OpCos, and vets third-party drone service providers (DSPs) sponsored into Quanta procurement. This is not a departmental role; it is the person Quanta Services relies on to keep every drone program across the enterprise operating to a consistent, defensible, utility-customer-submittable standard. The role involves significant travel (50%+ required) for audits, training, and Quanta OpCo engagements.

Responsibilities

Define and maintain the enterprise UAS operating standard across all Quanta OpCos operating drone programs
Own the SOP family of documents Rev 4.0 framework (Field Operations Manual, Safety Management System, Training Manual, Maintenance Program) that governs QAS UAS Operations and cascades appropriately to sponsored operators
Ensure standards remain current with regulatory requirements (FAA, Transport Canada, and CASA), NDAA / NIST supply-chain requirements, and utility-industry procurement expectations (ISNetworld, Avetta, Veriforce, NCMS)
Lead periodic standards review and revision cycles
Design and execute annual audit cycle covering ~70 companies and growing
Own audit checklists, field-audit protocols, findings reports, and corrective action tracking
Conduct on-site field audits at operator facilities and job sites; travel expected ~25-50%
Interface with utility customer safety departments during customer-driven audits (initial and annual reviews)
Vet and onboard new third-party DSPs sponsored into Quanta procurement
Design and deliver enterprise-level training programs for the Quanta drone-program population
Own competency-based assessments and role-specific training matrices
Coordinate with OpCo UAS program Managers on mission-specific training curriculum
Oversee recurrent training standards + records compliance across sponsored operators
Own SMS incident investigation lifecycle: initial response, root-cause analysis (HFACS or comparable framework), corrective action, close-out
Maintain SMS documentation, hazard reporting, safety-culture initiatives
Report safety metrics to QAS leadership monthly and to customer safety organizations as contractually required
Vet third-party drone service providers sponsored into Quanta procurement
Maintain approved-vendor list and vendor performance metrics
Manage vendor onboarding, credentialing, and compliance verification

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Aviation, Engineering, or related field (or 5+ years equivalent experience)
FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certification
5+ years demonstrated experience owning aviation, industrial, or utility safety standards / audit programs
Prior experience conducting field audits (SMS, ISNetworld, Avetta, BARS, ISBAO, or comparable frameworks)
Strong technical writing — SOP, incident reports, audit findings must be customer-submittable
Utility industry safety and standards familiarity
Willingness to travel ~25%-50% for audits, customer engagements, and site visits

Nice to have

Prior utility Chief Pilot or Standards/Compliance role experience
FAA, Transport Canada or CASA BVLOS regulatory familiarity
Manned-aviation credentials (Private Pilot, Instrument, Advanced Ground Instructor)
BARS / ISBAO auditor experience
HFACS (Human Factors Analysis & Classification System) or equivalent root-cause certification
Prior training-program ownership at scale (utility, F1000, or aviation-services context)
OEM operator certifications on Skydio X-series, WingtraOne, Flyability Elios, INSPIRED FLIGHT, FreeFly, Censys, DJI Matrice series

Benefits

Base salary: $130,000 – $140,000 depending on experience and prior credentials
Performance bonus: eligible for annual performance bonus
401(k): with Quanta Services match per corporate policy
Health benefits: full Quanta medical, dental, vision, life, LTD
Paid time off: per Quanta corporate policy
Professional development budget: for certifications, industry conferences, continuing education
Standard Quanta benefits: stock purchase program eligibility, EAP, wellness resources